I remembered I had this bad habit a long time ago.
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When I was a little child, about the age of five or thereabout, I used to do the same thing as the motorcyclist. I liked to bite my fingernails and chew them. In fact, I loved it. It came with this soothing sensation and fulfilment you can't even imagine. How my nervous system and brain worked hand in hand to interprete and carry out the stimuli of biting off and chewing my fingernails is something I still haven't figured out. I really enjoyed the chewing aspect more. I knew it was a bad habit because most times I was seen doing that, I was cautioned. Sometimes, my mom would scold me. "Will you put that hand down before I spank you." She did this always with a harsh tone in her voice. I would be forced remove my finger(s) from my mouth. Sometimes, in a public gathering, I would get lost in the act, only for my mom to give me an eye contact which meant "be careful".
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One fateful day, I was at home sitting on a plastic chair at the corridor. Having chewed my fingernails to a point where there was nothing to chew, the urge of 'biting and chewing' came. As little as I was, the thought of my toenails brushed through my mind. Yes!! I was excited but I knew the act would be hard to carry out. Trying to get my toes into my mouth was a big deal. A really big deal! Notwithstanding, I kept trying, little did I know my mom was watching me from a distance. I was on the verge of getting the act done when the plastic chair I was sitting on broke. Immediately, I fell backwards and hit my head on the floor. I started to yell thinking my mom would come to my rescue. I sighted her but she was looking away. I began to cry, this time louder so I could be heard.
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My mom approached me and I thought she would pet me as usual. I was too wrong to be right. I got the beating I'd never forget. My fingernails were checked henceforth. On no account was I able to bite or chew my nails. My mom trimmed my fingernails quite often and eventually I got over it. I got over the sweetness it gave me. I stopped biting and chewing my fingernails. I stopped the bad habit.
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Habits are behaviours done repeatedly. Sometimes, they are involuntarily done while other times, they are done consciously. Breaking habits(bad habits) are quite difficult. It takes time but in the end, the freedom from it is worth it.
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Immediately I got into my room, I checked my fingernails. It wasn't looking like that of the motorcyclist. So much to be grateful for today, my fingernails are no exception. *smiles*
Have a great day!
Anne.
XO
